I am a candidate for the United States Senate because we need to work together to solve the very real problems faced by Florida families.

Florida is in trouble and we are not getting our fair share from Washington.

Wages are stagnant. We are losing population.

The cost of living is higher because of increased homeowners’ insurance rates and taxes. Our quality of life in Florida is at risk.

We aren’t even getting our fair share of the stimulus package. Although, Governor Crist embraced President Obama’s stimulus package, Florida is 50th out of 50 States in the allocation of stimulus funds. We are dead last.
My purpose in the United States Senate will be to look to Florida’s future. My campaign will not be about what I learned yesterday but rather tomorrow’s opportunity.

I am a Democrat but I expect to get support from Independents and Republicans who know I will be a partner in progress with and for them.

It is time to stop petty political bickering and get things done.
I served as the mayor of the City of Miami for twelve years and I served Florida as a member of the State House of Representatives.

But today’s problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s solutions.
We need a bold voice in Washington who is ready to fight for Florida.

Above all, I am running for the United States Senate to put Floridians first and get our
economy moving again. Now more than ever, our state needs a hardworking leader who
is willing to tackle longstanding problems and exert the type of leadership necessary to
put people back to work.

As a former skycap and Florida state trooper, I know what it means to work hard like
regular Floridians who punch in and punch out every day. I understand the problems
Floridians face because my experience is rooted in the lives of real people.

As you will see from my answers, I value action over rhetoric. I am the only candidate
with a proven track record of public service who has what it takes to roll up his sleeves
and get our economy working again for Florida families.

I see now that career politicians will never solve the problems that we face as a nation. In order to make the changes necessary to restore our Constitutional Republic, we need to elect regular citizens that are not beholden to special interests or big money donors. There's nothing special about me. I am just a regular citizen that has sworn to defend and uphold the Constitution, and I take that oath very seriously.

In 1970 there were 3.7 workers per U.S. retiree. Today it is 3.3 and projected to be 2.1 in 2040. Our situation is not as bad as Europe’s, especially Germany and France, because of our higher reproduction rate and lower age of the now over 50 million U.S. Hispanics. Even with curtailed immigration, demographers project over 100 million U.S. Latinos in the 2040’s: one out of every four Americans. That is just 35 years away. However, because of the current lower educational achievement of Latinos, we need to plan for this, by concentrating on educating all our future workers who will sustain future retirees.

I believe that five years from now (2015) the retirement age should be increased six months and continue to be increased six months every five years thereafter. By 2030 the retirement age would be capped at 67.

Economists, demographers and actuarial studies must keep constant guard on the cash flow and needs of our Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid systems. We need to be pragmatic with the country’s needs: studied, transparent, no surprises.

I also believe that society should not carry the burden of equal retirement payments for those that reach retirement age and are financially solvent and have the ability to care for their needs. The philosophy of progressive taxation was well established by both Presidents Roosevelt and has been part of U.S. government public policy for close to a century.

The capping of benefits falls in the same public policy area. Just as the European model of capitation for all medical procedures and services works efficiently (as per the medical indices and empirical results) and costs are 75% less than in the U.S., similarly capping benefits in a fair, progressive and equitable way may be needed, gradually, over the next 30 year period.

The main reason why Social Security and Medicare are in trouble is that the number of retirees’ is growing faster than the number of workers. During WWII there were 40 people working for every retiree. By 1960 that number was down to 5.1 and is now 3.3 to 1 today. By 2050 it is projected to be 2 to 1. The reason is that Americans are living longer, better and healthier lives and our fertility is down to 2.07. The minimum to replace population 1 to 1 is a 2.1 fertility rate. So we are not so poorly off. What will make the BIG DIFFERENCE between the US and Europe is immigration (The Fertility Rate in Europe is at 1.4, Germany at 1.33, and Italy at 1.2.)
The U.S. needs to make sure that future immigrants and their offspring are properly educated to add to the US quality of life, like past immigrants did. The average age of the US Latino population is less than half of the non-Hispanic white population; their fertility rate is nearly double. With or without new immigration, the demographics of the U.S. are changing rapidly and this is affecting elections in the U.S.

In the interim, we need to extend the retirement age slowly, we need to slowly cap benefits and pay out retirement benefits proportionately according to the needs of the individual after retirement.

Then there is the important issue to how do we pay for the services Americans demand.

The U.S., state and local governments now fail to provide adequate funds for basic public services, such as transportation, commuter rail, fast rail, improved waste water treatment, water, broadband and other infrastructure needs, decent schools, healthcare service, renewable energy, on and on. China moves ahead and we stumble (this year, in less than a decade, China passes France’s 1700 miles of high speed rail, electricity from wind mills, etc).

Furthermore, on the tax side of the solution, it is important to point out that of the top 20, industrialized first world countries, the U.S. is number 17. Our total taxation is 29.6% of GDP. Of the “big” countries, only Japan is less, with taxes at 27.1% of GDP. Switzerland is at 35.7%, Germany at 37.9% and France at 45.3%. UK, our closest ally, is at 37.4%; New Zealand, Australia and Canada are all at the 35% + taxation level. The US tax level is low as compared to all other industrialized countries.

Social Security allows Florida’s seniors to live in dignity and also provides support to
younger family caregivers who are responsible for their older relatives. Without Social
Secuity, 40% of Florida’s seniors would live in poverty.

The single greatest thing we can do to increase the solvency of the Social Security system
is turn our economy around. That will strengthen the financial future of the program and
increase revenues, especially in the out-years. I also support the creation of a Bipartisan
Commission on Social Security to craft comprehensive policy solutions that have support
and buy-in from the two major political parties and major stakeholders. I am a firm
believer that this is the best way to tackle the issue.

Social Security was a contract with Americans. We must honor that commitment to those that are nearing retirement age. Unfortunately, the Social Security system has become a government-sponsored ponzi scheme, relying on new workers to fund the retirement of those whose contributions to the program have long been squandered by Congress.

Older Americans must be secure in the knowledge that the government will keep its promise to them, even though it will be costly. To fund this, we must find ways to cut ineffective and unconstitutional federal government programs. Also, we need a thriving economy that will reduce the tax burden on Americans, while at the same time increase federal revenue. The FairTax is an excellent option for achieving this.

Younger Americans should be given a choice on how to plan for their own retirement, and be given the option to opt out of the system. Once the number of Americans wanting to participate in Social Security declines to a manageable number, it could be turned over to the individual states or even private industry.

Sadly, there is no overnight fix for this problem. It will take a multi-generational and disciplined plan to fix the program, and eventually ween America from Social Security.

My position on the U.S. energy policy can be summed up in five words: we need an energy policy. The U.S. has tried to establish an energy policy for 40 years since Jimmy Carter, but failed. Today, in light of the BP Deep-Water Horizon catastrophe, President Obama and the United States have an opportunity to vigorously create an energy policy, which is crucial to the establishment of a new economy. Rahm Emanuel stated, “don’t let a crisis go to waste.” The BP Gulf oil spill is a crisis that should be a springboard to the New Economy. The New Economy will be based on renewable energy and technology. The New Economy will entail a shift from the past to the present , from an emphasis on oil and coal to a focus on renewable energy. The implementation of an energy policy is vital to overcoming the recession and the potential depression that is still threatening the security of our nation. A New Economy based on technological innovation and fuel-use rather than the traditional economy of America’s past based on industrial manufacturing, is a viable solution to safeguarding our future in such a competitive international market. The U.S. needs to move to the New Economy based on energy and technology. We must work to eliminate petroleum fuels from use for transportation, heat and electricity production by committing to developing a well organized and structured short-term (10 years) and long-term (20 years) energy plan. This New Economy fuel independence would solve the current problems in the US economy by creating jobs, addressing climate change issues, protecting the environment, and launching new forms of ground transportation.

The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico which started on April 20 that is spewing an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil a day may cripple for years the Florida coastline, along with its beaches and wetlands. Currently in the U.S. Senate, Florida’s Sr. Senator Bill Nelson (D. FL) is strongly against lifting the oil drilling ban. Recently appointed Sen. George LeMieux (R. FL) was a lobbyist for the speculators pushing the lifting of the ban. Our next U.S. Senator must face the issue of drilling off the coast of Florida.
Presently, there is a 125 mile Federal ban on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Lifting the Gulf of Mexico ban would allow drilling within 3-10 miles of our precious award winning beaches.
President Barack Obama recently approved a relaxation of his campaign position against more off shore drilling to negotiate an energy bill with Republicans. He has obviously pulled back after the Deepwater – Horizon – BP disaster in the Golf of Mexico.
No American wants U.S. dependency on foreign oil, especially from hostile Middle East countries and Venezuela. We all want cheap gasoline and U.S waters, shorelines, not tarnished. But, let’s look at the whole picture:
Currently, 37 million acres of deep seabed in the central & western Gulf of Mexico are available for oil exploration, however, only 7 million of those acres, or 19%, have been leased and partially explored. The remaining 81%, or 30 million acres, have not been explored, yet. They need to be explored before drilling next to Florida’s beaches.
Despite the plentiful amount of seabed available for drilling, speculating companies in Texas and Louisiana, behind this drill push, want more. They want to drill off Florida’s Gulf and now, also the Atlantic Coast – A FIRST.
I will aggressively oppose such a measure as a member of the United States Senate.

We need to end our dangerous addiction to foreign oil and shift to a new domestic
clean energy economy. I voted for the American Clean Energy and Security
Act, which included a cap-and-trade system, and I would do so again because I
believe that strong energy legislation needs to address the issue of climate change.

Florida ranks 23rd in the nation in energy efficiency. I know we can do better. We need to
mandate renewable energy standards and provide incentives for investment in renewable
sources to expand our energy portfolio. I have sponsored legislation that provides tax
credits to incentivize biomass and electricity made from renewable sources.

Energy policy should incentivize development of renewable sources here at home. A
shift in our energy portfolio shouldn’t mean more outsourcing of jobs, but instead an
opportunity to develop new jobs around a clean energy economy here in the US.

I have always opposed expanding offshore oil drilling. Even when President Obama
proposed a plan to open up drilling off Florida’s beaches in March, I warned of the
consequences of drilling and cautioned the Administration of the cost of error. It is a
position that I’ve always held.

One of the biggest factors in considering energy policy is consumer demand. To meddle with market signals used by energy producers always has perverse and unintended consequences. Further, a policy of onerous regulations, to the extent that the regulators themselves aren’t familiar with them is never an effective policy.

There is quite the demand for a gasoline alternative, and the powers that be have suggested that ethanol is a viable alternative. Renewable, and produced from corn, it should be cheaper that gasoline, and it was, for a while. The demand grew, and the price of E85, an 85/15% blend of ethanol and gasoline (when calculated as price per mile due to the lower efficiency of E85), is roughly similar to that of gasoline. With no net effect in its usage as a fuel, it’s certainly driven the price of corn up as a side effect. Hemp, on the other hand, produces several times as much fuel as corn, and while it has several other uses, it won’t drive up the cost of food. Hemp, however, is prohibited in the United States because it is considered a controlled substance. Removing such prohibitions and other regulations allow, and promote innovation, leading us to more effective solutions.

Quite the same can be said for nuclear power. While there are very good arguments on both sides of the table, without allowing people and companies to innovate, and find solutions to adversity, it can be certain that our endeavor of safe, clean, and efficient energy will never be achieved. While solar and wind generation are potentially viable alternatives, I believe that all ideas should be on the table, and the market will decide what is best for any given situation.

I also believe that we should strive to generate all of our energy domestically. I view this as a national security issue. While offshore drilling for oil can be dangerous and disastrous, I am in favor of it, with the following caveats:

- Responsible parties will be 100% responsible for any damages they cause. There can be no financial cap on damages of any kind.
- Companies would be required to carry insurance to cover any potential damages.

And:

- These insurance companies, acting in their own best interest, would hire third-party companies with expertise in drilling safety to minimize the potential for accident or disaster.
- These insurance companies would, in effect, be the regulators of the drilling industry, and one can surmise, will do a better job than the federal government in that regard.
- The insurance companies would cover any loss shown to be caused by an accident, in full.
- Insurance companies would likely require private companies that specialize in cleanup to be on call and nearby, in case of accident.
- These cleanup companies, acting in their own best interest, would likely be very skilled and efficient at cleaning and containing disasters.

Yet again, we can see how fewer, but more sensible regulations can lead to better efficiency and safer production in every arena of energy production, drastically reducing the possibility for major and minor spills alike, and mitigate such events effectively.

On Cap and Trade and carbon tax schemes

What more than a potential source of revenue for a spendthrift government is ‘carbon tax’? Unfortunately, one of the characteristics of taxation is that it always gets passed on to the end user. While I haven’t yet seen any overwhelming evidence supporting or refuting anthropogenic global warming, it is certain that governments should not, and can not do anything to curb this alleged ‘man-made climate change’. I oppose any carbon tax scheme, especially those on energy production. If it can be proven that man does, and has had the capability to change the average global temperature in any significant way, I’m certain that market based solutions will be, as they usually are, the best for everyone.

While I could further expound upon the manner in which burdensome government regulation drives up the cost of energy and stifles innovation, it’s quite clear that if government got out of the energy production business altogether, we can get on the fast track to energy independence.

Any form of compensation, or periodic increases in compensation, is an agreement between an individual worker and a company. The government has no business legislating compensation of individuals and private businesses.

From day one, I have been a vocal opponent of our misguided war effort in Iraq. Not
only were the claims of weapons of mass destruction patently not true, but our military
foray into Iraq also detracted from what should have been our true focus – the War in
Afghanistan. I believe strongly in winding down our engagement in Iraq in a responsible
and measured manner, while at the same time putting our military on a course for success
in Afghanistan that was missing for many years.

For too long, the War in Afghanistan – which is critical to our nation’s security – was
the “Forgotten War”. The President’s new counterinsurgency strategy continues to fix the
dramatic shortfalls of the previous Administration.

President Obama has tripled the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and has given
us, for the first time since the start of the war nearly a decade ago, a real strategy for
success. Our military leaders and commanders on the ground have strongly endorsed the
President’s plan, and we continue to see gains made against the insurgency, including
the most significant captures to date of Taliban leaders and others directly responsible
for planning and carrying out the types of actions that led to 9/11. That is what the War
in Afghanistan was and is all about – preventing a repeat of those events by stopping the
terror campaign at its known roots. The previous Administration diverted our attention to
a fight that we didn’t need to be in. We are now back on the necessary path.

To end our involvement in Afghanistan responsibly and successfully, I believe it’s
important to stay focused on President Obama’s stated goal of disrupting, dismantling,
and defeating Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. President Obama has clarified the
war aim and made it clear that our involvement will not be an open-ended commitment.
I am hopeful we will meet his goal of drawing down troops by the summer of 2011.

In total, over two hundred sixty Floridians have given their lives in Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom. As Florida’s Senator, I
intend to do everything in my power to honor their sacrifices by bringing both these wars
to a responsible end.

The Iraq war is over. We have achieved every stated objective. Iraq now has a stable, democratically elected government. The insurgent violence can be managed by the Iraqi military and police forces. It's time for us to bring our troops home.

Afghanistan is a different conflict. The war has been mismanaged, and we took our eye off the ball. By allowing the conflict to stagnate, and by losing sight of our objective of killing or capturing Osama bin Laden, we have sown the seeds of an unending conflict. We must recommit to the objective, and finish the job. As soon as that is done, we must bring our troops home and avoid the temptation to engage in futile nation building.

Moving forward, we must return to our Founders vision of a non-interventionist foreign policy. We should never commit troops to combat without a declaration of war from Congress. We should seek neutrality whenever possible, and avoid entangling alliances with foreign nations. American exceptionalism is best displayed by example, not by the use of force.

Poor. The Obama Administration is the culmination of the progression of the consolidation of power in the executive branch, and in the federal government as a whole. Stimulus, health care reform, the surveillance society, bank bailouts, federal takeovers of corporations, and a steady stream of executive orders are a direct assault on the Constitution. If we allow this trend continue, our children will one day awake in a country that no longer even gives the illusion of liberty.

Yes, I support Florida’s sunshine laws. Florida is one of the few states that requires the
meetings and records of its legislature to be open to the public, and it has proven to be
a valuable asset to the operation of the public's work. Exemptions should be narrowly
written for the purpose of protecting the health, safety and welfare of those persons that
might otherwise be adversely affected by release of certain sensitive information into the
wrong hands or information that is proprietary in nature.

My decision to enter public service was not based on salary, but on a desire to serve
Floridians and our home state. In fact, elected officials could often make more money
outside the public sector. That being said, I support efforts to reassess congressional
salaries on a regular basis and determine an appropriate figure.

The reauthorization of No Child Left Behind will likely occur next year, and I look
forward to working with the education community to make sure that Florida’s teachers
and students are successful. The process of reauthorization will give me and others
in Congress an opportunity to fix what is not working with the law and improve what
is working. For example, the current system of AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress –
punishes an entire school if a single academic benchmark in a single grade in a single
subject by a single subgroup of students is not met. We must continue to focus on making
sure that the needs of underserved populations of students are met, but also need to create
a better system that allows schools more flexibility and does not impose increasingly
punitive consequences on schools that need support.

I am a firm proponent of comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to
citizenship, secures our borders, upholds the rule of law, unites families, and protects our
workers and our economy. There is an urgent need for bipartisan action on this issue at
the federal level.

It is time to create a pathway to legalization for the nearly 12 million undocumented
people residing in the United States. It is morally wrong, fiscally irresponsible, and
logistically impossible for the government to pursue mass deportation for undocumented
people. In addition, it is unconscionable to have so many families and communities living
in the shadows of Florida in constant fear of deportation. We need to modernize our
current immigration system – including making long-term investments in the technology
and resources that protect our borders, ports, and airports – so that it provides alternatives
to unauthorized immigration and the lengthy backlogs that harm families and children.

I would strongly oppose any effort to adopt the new immigration law in Arizona
nationwide or import it to Florida. The recent measures signed into law in Arizona are
neither fair nor practical. It encourages police to question people who have done nothing
wrong, and it does a disservice to people in this country who are employed, paying their
taxes and are good citizens of their communities. As a former Trooper in the Florida
Highway Patrol, I know laws like these will also hamper law enforcement efforts and
make it harder to find people who will speak out as witnesses to crimes. This law is
impractical and will not make anyone safer. Furthermore, it flies in the face of who we
are as a nation.

This great country was founded on immigration, and the talent and labor of individuals from other nations. With that in mind, our current immigration situation is plagued with considerably more problems than those dealt with during America’s infancy.

It is far too easy to enter this country illegally, and far too difficult to follow the proper channels, consisting of a wait of several years and a cost of thousands of dollars. The solution is to close the borders and enforce current law at the border.
Further, we need to remove the incentive for illegal immigration by removing sources of employment, namely by enforcing laws on corporations that hire undocumented workers. The fines should be significant enough to increase the risk for employers to the point where ineligible workers will not be hired.

As solid as these solutions are, they aren’t perfect. For those who still enter this country illegally, the FairTax will be in place. All people, including immigrants, would pay a national sales tax. Illegal immigrants, however, would not be eligible for the monthly rebate, which goes only to authorized households. This would ensure that all illegal immigrants are paying tax.

Another problem that we face with regard to immigration is human smuggling. Much of the funding for human smugglers, and violent gangs like MS-13 come from drug revenue. Ending the federal war on drugs will dry up the revenue stream that smugglers and gangs use to fund their operations. This will further decrease instances of violent crime among gangs, and in general help put an end to human smuggling.

With these measures in place, there still lies the incentive to sneak in, as it were. It’s quite clear that the legal process for immigration is far too costly, in time and money. I advocate for an easier immigration policy, which allows greater numbers annually, with lower cost, and less proverbial hoops to jump through. This further helps to remove the incentive to come into this country illegally.

I oppose raising taxes, especially on the middle class, to raise more revenues. I support allowing the Bush tax cuts for the super-wealthy and large corporate interests to expire. These policies have done very little to help the middle class and have exploded our deficit.

I have been a strong advocate for state and local sales tax deductions. I have also sponsored many important tax bills, including extending Research and Development (R&D) tax credits, repealing certain onerous requirements on payments made by government vendors, and accelerating depreciation schedules for new restaurant construction. I support continuing the capital gains tax at its current rate and have voted to extend the estate tax exemption and tax rate of 2009.

For far too long, Congress and Presidents have used tax policy to punish, reward, and manipulate behavior. This has caused business and individuals to make decisions based on tax ramifications, instead of in their own best interest -- or the best interest of their communities.

I am in favor of repealing the 16th Amendment, eliminating all tax on income, including FICA, Social Security, capital gains, inheritance, corporate income tax, etc. This revenue would be replaced with the FairTax, which is a national consumption-based tax system. This would allow every American to decide how much tax they pay by deciding how many goods and services they will purchase.

Also, it will eliminate the intrusion that every American faces under the scrutiny of the IRS. All of your income is yours to keep. You only pay tax on what you spend.

Finally, every American would receive a monthly prebate to cover the tax on the basic necessities such as minimal food, shelter, clothing, etc. Therefore, no one below the poverty line would pay any tax unless they began to spend beyond their means.

Floridians have long suffered from the pitfalls of our broken health care system and over
3,500 Floridians lose their coverage every week. This is simple unacceptable.
I supported and voted for comprehensive health care reform to extend coverage to the
uninsured, lower costs for the insured, cut the deficit, close the Medicare Part D ‘Donut
Hole’, extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by at least 9 years, and sharpen
Medicare’s focus on critical preventive care.

The federal government should get out of the way. The free market will solve most of America's health care problems. If it is truly necessary to have safety net for the needy, then the states should be responsible for providing the basic necessary care.

As our nation fights two wars, veterans affairs are more important now than ever. We
have a solemn obligation to continue our commitment to our brave men and women in
uniform when they return to the home front. Increasing medical benefits, cutting the
process time for receiving benefits, strengthening housing opportunities for homeless
veterans, and increasing funding for VA hospitals and retirements homes are all part of
the equation. Supporting our veterans as they seek further educational opportunities and
job training is also important. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki
has done a great job addressing these issues, and I fully support him and all he is doing to
ensure that our veterans receive the care and support they deserve.

In 2008, the American people voted overwhelmingly for change and a departure from
the failed policies of the Bush Administration. The Congress and the Administration
are delivering on that promise and moving our country forward, not backward. This
Administration – particularly the White House Office of Public Engagement – has
conducted unprecedented outreach to key constituencies across the country, including,
for example, Americans with disabilities, Native Americans, and faith communities. For
eight years, the Bush Administration governed the country while primarily catering to
select constituencies – namely the wealthy and special interests. As we seek to reverse
those trends, it is important that we continue to keep focusing on the needs of the one
constituency that matters – Floridians.

The Bush Administration had the worst fiscal record in American history and doubled the
national debt by refusing to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthy, two wars, and a Medicare
prescription drug plan. President Bush inherited a 10-year budget surplus of $5.6 trillion from
President Clinton. In contrast, President Obama inherited $10 trillion more in deficits over the
next 10 years from President Bush.

Democrats have made significant efforts to cut the deficit. I was a major proponent of restoring
pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget rules, which Republicans allowed to lapse in 2002. PAYGO is
simple: Congress can only spend a dollar if it saves a dollar. For too long, Republicans relied on
the federal credit card to finance major programs with little regard for the fiscal damaged that
was inflicted with each passing day. There are priorities we must face as a nation, but, if they are
indeed priorities, we should be willing and able to pay for them with cash. That is fiscal discipline
and conservatism, not deficit spending.

I’ve also been a vocal supporter of passing health care reform in part to get control of our fiscal
woes. Health care reform cuts the nation’s deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years and
$1.2 trillion over the next decade – the largest deficit reduction measure in almost two decades.
The current economic recession makes balancing the budget difficult, but I support efforts
to put us back on track toward balanced budgets, as we had during the Clinton years.

We need to reestablish the natural water flow in the Everglades. I have worked for
funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and the various projects it
includes to help to do this – by removing levees, filling in canals and eliminating runoff
from agricultural and urban sources. By restoring the natural flow and improving water
quality, we can improve the health of the Everglades and the surrounding estuaries.

Israel has the right and duty to defend itself and protect its citizens against all threats. As
a security precaution, Israel was well within its rights to search the cargo and passengers
of a ship on the verge of breaching its sovereign borders, despite repeated requests from
the Israeli government to stop.

The ship’s passengers could have allowed Israeli servicemembers to escort their ship to a
port peacefully to transfer aid to the people living in Hamas-controlled Gaza, but instead
resorted to aggression and hostility.

Israeli soldiers cannot be blamed for defending themselves and their citizens. I will not
allow Israel to be blamed unfairly for exercising its right to self-defense.

I believe that access to health care should expand for women and not shrink. I am a
strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose and support legislation that protects
that legal right while reducing the need for abortions through expanded access to
contraception and health care.

I have always been a fierce defender of the rights of LGBT Americans. For example,
Florida’s adoption ban for LGBT citizens is wrong and our state is behind the rest of the
county. The policy blatantly discriminates against a segment of our state's citizens. At
this moment, thousands of children in our state are waiting to be adopted and placed in
loving and safe homes. The theory that LGBT parents cannot responsibly raise a child is
baseless. I believe that potential adoptive parents should be evaluated on their capacity to
love and raise a child, not on their sexual orientation.

I have also consistently opposed the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that
forces young men and women who put their lives on the line for our country to suppress a
part of their identity.

I do not support gay marriage, but am in favor of civil unions and full partnership
benefits for gay and lesbian couples. There is no reason why any American should
be denied hospital visits or inheritance rights or tax benefits based on their sexual
orientation.

I believe parents should make their own decisions on whether to home school their
children.

Unanswered questions

We did not receive any responses to these questions.

Q22. What plans do you have to assist as many as 36,000 Florida residents devastated by Chinese dry wall? (reader submitted 2010)